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Package boosts funding for at-risk students, child care, behavioral health care and services for older Coloradans < Back February 7, 2024 House Advances Supplemental Budget Package DENVER, CO - The House today advanced the FY 2024-2025 Budget Supplemental Package on a preliminary vote. The package of bills includes $4.6 million for at-risk students, $11 million for child care and $69.4 million toward expanded access to behavioral health care treatment, including residential beds. Other top priorities in the package include funding for autism care for children, workforce housing, victims of crime, and senior services including Meals on Wheels. “From boosting child care to investing in public safety, this supplemental package delivers on our promise to Coloradans,” said JBC Chair Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster . “These adjustments to our budget will make it easier for Colorado families to not only just get by, but thrive, and they increase support for at-risk students, children with autism spectrum disorder and healthy school meals. I’m proud of our bipartisan work to put Coloradans first and continue to responsibly balance our budget.” “This year’s supplemental package shows our dedication to building a Colorado that meets the needs of its people while responsibly working with the limited budget that we have,” said JBC Member Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “I’m proud that our supplemental package makes critical investments to support our behavioral health workforce, boost education funding, save Coloradans money on energy efficient lawn equipment, and advance critical measures that will help us better fund our schools.” Each year, the legislature adopts a budget supplemental package to make mid-year adjustments to the 2023-2024 budget based on changes to caseload, pupil counts and other considerations. Supporting Education, Setting Students Up for Success HB24-1183 Boosting Funding for At-Risk Students . To support at-risk students in their educational journey, this bill funds over $4.6 million from the State Public School Fund. This bill helps school districts meet the needs of their at-risk students to help them succeed and graduate. HB24-1183 Reaching Educational Goals . To ensure that Colorado schools have the funding they need, HB24-1183 sets aside $2.8 million for two adequacy studies required by SB23-287 to better understand the level of funding Colorado schools need to provide the education students deserve. HB24-1205 Improving Youth’s Access to Books. This bill helps get more books into the hands of our youngest Coloradans by helping the Imagination Library reach its goal of providing one, no cost, book a month to children under the age of five. This bill specifically allows the Imagination Library of Colorado program to partner with other nonprofit organizations and book publishers to reach its goal. HB24-1206 Expanding the Healthy School Meals program . This bill would expand the Healthy School Meals program to include facility schools as well the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind. This bill aims to ensure all youth have access to healthy, nutritious food during the school day. Boosting Childcare HB24-1182 Saving Families Money on Child Care. HB24-1182 allocates over $11 million of federal Child Care Development Funds money to the Child Care Sustainability Grant Program and the Early Care and Education Recruitment and Retention Grant and Scholarship Program. Increasing Access to Behavioral Health HB24-1187 Behavioral Health Services in the Criminal Justice System. This bill devotes $58 million to properly staff hospitals that house patients with pending criminal charges that require competency evaluations and services. HB24-1187 Boosting Mental Health Care. This bill supports mental health care by funding $13.1 million to Pueblo’s Colorado Mental Health Hospital so they can fill staff openings with contract staffers. HB24-1203 Increase Residential Treatment Beds. To ensure Coloradans can receive the behavioral health care treatment they need, when they need it this bill allocates $11.4 million for inpatient treatment beds at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan. HB24-1185 Provider Rate Increase for Child Autism Therapy. This bill meets the recommendations of the Medicaid Provider Rate Review Advisory Committee by offering $10.4 million to increase rates for child behavioral therapies with autism spectrum disorder. Improving Public Safety HB24-1214 Supporting Victims of Crime. This bill aims to support survivors of crime by boosting the Community Crime Victims Grant Program with a $4 million investment. This fund directly supports qualified victims of crime through assisting with emergency housing, child care and medical visits. HB24-1197 Protecting Places of Worship. To aid local places of worship, such as churches, synagogues, and mosques, in ramping up their security measures, this bill allocates $1 million toward the Colorado Nonprofit Security Grant Program. HB24-1181 Increase Workforce Housing for Correctional Staff. The bill allocates an additional $120,000 to the Department of Corrections to secure housing for up to 50 correctional employees in the greater Buena Vista area. HB24-1197 Boosting School Security. To help schools keep their students safe through improved physical security measures as well as advanced security training for their staff and teachers, this bill sets aside more than $200,000 in grant funding for local education providers and eligible nonprofits to apply for. Uplifting Communities HB24-1187 Providing Services for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind. Allocating $500,000 for the Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind allows the state to meet the rising demand for the long-term needs of Coloradans and maintain accessibility services these communities rely on. Supporting Services for Older Coloradans HB24-1211 Ensuring Older Coloradans have Access to Nutritious Meals. Due to interruptions in federal funding, older Coloradans who use the popular Meals on Wheels food delivery program could experience a lapse in service. This bill offers $2 million in supplemental funding to the Meals on Wheels program and other senior services to ensure the thousands of Coloradans who rely on these programs can have access to healthy, nutritional meals. Reaching our Climate Goals HB24-1196 Saving Coloradans Money on Lawn Equipment . To save Coloradans money on electrifying their lawn equipment, this bill includes a $1.3 million grant renewal to help Coloradans transition to eco-friendly, electric lawnmowers, leaf blowers and other lawn equipment. HB24-1196 Protecting Colorado’s Water. The Sackett v. EPA Supreme Court decision left Colorado’s wetlands vulnerable to pollution and destruction. This bill allocates over $214,000 to ensure the state can educate on and protect Colorado’s water and ecosystems. Previous Next

Democratic members of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) today released the following statements after the Legislative Council Staff (LCS) and the Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) delivered the March quarterly economic forecasts. < Back March 17, 2025 JOINT RELEASE: Recession Risk Increases, Tight Budget Conditions Persist DENVER, CO – Democratic members of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) today released the following statements after the Legislative Council Staff (LCS) and the Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) delivered the March quarterly economic forecasts. “The Joint Budget Committee faces an extraordinarily challenging budget process this year because of the rationing equation in TABOR. Uncertainty at the federal level also poses very real threats to our work at the state level,” said JBC Chair Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County. “However, unlike Washington, we have combed through the budget to make thoughtful, strategic, and bipartisan cuts. Even tougher decisions lie ahead that will impact everyday services Coloradans rely on. Despite these challenges, we’ll wrap up our work later this week to pass a responsible, balanced budget.” “Today’s forecast is a reminder that looming trade wars, federal cuts to Medicaid, and sweeping federal layoffs, will significantly harm Colorado’s economy, drive up prices and worsen our budget crisis,” said JBC Member Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “Coloradans are counting on us to responsibly balance our budget, which means we will need to make cuts in places no one wants in order to protect essential services and our most vulnerable community members. Our tight budget condition is the result of increased Medicaid costs and fiscal constraints, and that means we will need to make tradeoffs to deliver on the services Coloradans rely on.” “This economic forecast highlights the uncertainty driven by federal decision-making and the concerns many Coloradans share about the nation’s economy,” said JBC Member Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “These challenges compound an already difficult budgeting process that the Joint Budget Committee has been working through and presents new challenges as we think long term about the state’s budget and economy. As we approach the end of our budgeting process, I will work hard to protect critical funding for services like education and behavioral health care – investments that will build stronger, healthier communities for years to come.” “As we get closer to delivering a balanced budget for Coloradans, federally-fueled economic uncertainty is creating alarming risks to our economy and new pressures on our budget process,” said JBC Vice Chair Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “While we have difficult, painful budget decisions still before us, we’ve worked hard to prioritize the investments that Coloradans rely on in education, health care and public safety. Colorado has a long history of passing bipartisan budgets, and I’d like to recognize the JBC’s diligent, thoughtful work to find responsible cuts that, while still painful, will help us finalize a balanced and responsible budget in these difficult circumstances.” Despite headwinds exacerbated by federal policies, Colorado’s economy remains strong. Driven by lower housing inflation, headline inflation in the Denver area is lower than the nation, and inflation in Colorado has been measured at much lower levels than nationally. The LCS forecast anticipates Colorado’s economy will continue to grow, however “rapidly shifting federal policy” has resulted in downward revisions to the economic forecasts. According to LCS, “over the forecast period, increased tariffs are expected to reduce trade volumes, put upward pressure on prices, and dampen business investment in structures and equipment.” Tariffs will “put upward pressure on retail gasoline prices.” Given the uncertainty surrounding consequential economic decisions made by the Trump administration, including tariffs, freezing federal funds and promised extensive changes to federal economic and tax policy, Colorado’s recession risk has been elevated. President Trump's tariff policies have resulted in more business volatility and uncertainty for consumers, and LCS staff believes there are now more risks to the forecast that could worsen budget conditions (downside risks) as a result of these federal policies. For example, tariffs on the import of crude oil from Canada could raise prices for Colorado consumers. Colorado has a large number of federal employees, some of whom have been subject to mass layoffs by the Trump administration at the USDA, NOAA, IRS and other federal departments. Colorado’s budget conditions remain constrained as costs grow. Medicaid costs have increased in Colorado, mainly due to aging demographics and higher demand for more expensive services, such as long term care. Colorado is facing a budget deficit of more than $1 billion, however, increased costs in Medicaid make up nearly 60 percent of this deficit. Colorado’s Medicaid funding could further be jeopardized if Congress adopts a plan to drastically reduce Medicaid spending. This federal funding cut to Medicaid has the potential to impact Colorado's ability to provide health care to nearly 400,000 Coloradans . The state is also required to fulfill voter-approved investments that further reduce the amount available in a capped budget and require legislative trade offs. The Legislative Council Staff (LCS) forecast anticipates General Fund revenues to be $17.89 billion in FY 2025-2026, adding to an opening balance of $2.20 billion in reserves, and $18.78 billion in FY in 2026-2027 – a 6.5 percent decrease in total funds available when compared year over year. The Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) anticipates that General Fund revenue will be $17.2 billion for FY 2024-2025 and $18.0 billion for FY 2025-2026 – a $344.6 million decrease for FY 2024-2025 and a $108.5 million decrease for FY 2025-2026 as compared with the December revenue forecast. Previous Next

HB25-1135 will address student cell phone use in classrooms < Back February 19, 2025 Bipartisan Bill to Create Healthier Learning Environments for Students Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Education Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to reduce student distraction caused by cell phones and foster a healthier learning environment. “Limiting classroom distractions helps create a learning environment where students are engaged, asking questions and focused on the material,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs. “As a teacher, I’ve experienced firsthand the distractions caused by student cell phone use in the classroom. Our bipartisan bill will help address cell phone distractions in our schools so students can focus on learning.” HB25-1135 , also sponsored by Representative Mary Bradfield, R-El Paso County, passed committee by a vote of 12-1. This bill aims to reduce cell phone-related distractions in classroom settings while promoting mental health among Colorado students. HB25-1135 encourages local control by allowing districts to consider their own guidelines when creating their district level policy. This bill would not impose a statewide ban on student cell phone use in Colorado’s public K-12 schools. Under this bill, school districts would create their own policy for student cell phone use in a K-12 setting. Policies must accommodate students with disabilities, and those who rely on those who rely on phones for healthcare needs or learning purposes. Research shows that student use of cell phones in schools can have negative effects on performance, including lower test scores and smaller learning gains. Additionally, cell phone use is associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety. From Florida to Ohio, at least 19 states have laws or policies that prohibit or limit the use of student cell phone use in schools or encourage districts to create their own policies as a best practice. Previous Next

Law increases financial penalties for businesses that violate the law, incentivizes reporting and improves transparency < Back June 5, 2024 ICYMI: Legislation to Increase Penalties for Child Labor Violations Becomes Law Law increases financial penalties for businesses that violate the law, incentivizes reporting and improves transparency DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis yesterday signed legislation sponsored by Representatives Sheila Lieder and Judy Amabile into law administratively to ramp up financial penalties for businesses that violate child labor laws. “Over the years, Colorado has made important progress to improve child labor laws - but we must ensure violators are held accountable for their actions,” said Rep. Sheila Lieder, D-Littleton. “Under current law, businesses face small or non-existent fines for child labor violations that could be putting our youth at risk. Our law significantly increases financial penalties to hold bad actors accountable, and importantly, keep our youth safe. We’re also committed to protecting those who speak out about child labor violations from retaliation, and this bill sets up guidelines to ensure those whistleblowers are protected.” “We need to ensure our state’s child labor laws are working as intended – the health and safety of our youth depends on it,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “This law encourages violation reporting, improves transparency around enforcement measures, and increases penalties for violations of these common sense protections. Outlined in the law are additional whistleblower protections to keep those who report child labor violations safe from retaliation. At the end of the day, we need to ensure our businesses are operating lawfully and our youth is protected, and this law brings us closer to that important goal.” HB24-1095 updates the Colorado Youth Employment Opportunity Act of 1971 and strengthens the penalty structure. Under current law, first-time child labor law violators face no fines or fines of only a few hundred dollars. This law raises the total range a violator may be fined for first and repeated offenses. HB24-1095 also removes legal disincentives that keep victims of child labor violations from reporting and protect child workers from employer retaliation. Previous Next

< Back May 2, 2022 HOUSE PASSES BILLS TO SAVE COLORADANS AND RESTAURANTS MONEY Legislation will save restaurants $40 million this summer and save Coloradans money on health care and prescription drugs DENVER, CO – The House today passed two bills that will save Coloradans and restaurants money. HB22-1406, sponsored by Representatives Leslie Herod and Dylan Roberts, will save restaurants $40 million this summer by allowing retailers to retain some of the sales tax they collect. HB22-1370, sponsored by Representatives Iman Jodeh and Emily Sirota, will save Coloradans on health care and prescription drugs. “Restaurants were some of the hardest hit businesses during the pandemic, and while public health restrictions have been lifted, they are now facing new challenges from rising costs to a tight labor market,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “This legislation will save thousands of restaurants and retailers $40 million this summer to help them address rising costs and fill the open positions that they need to grow.” “Restaurants are the lifeblood of our communities and local economies across the state. Helping them save money helps all of Colorado,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts. D-Avon. “The legislation we passed today will save restaurants up to $70,000 per restaurant and $40 million statewide this summer, which they can use to cover expenses, expand their business, pay their workers more and reduce costs for consumers.” HB22-1406 passed by a vote of 58-7. The bill will save nearly 9,000 restaurants and retailers nearly $40 million this summer by allowing them to deduct up to $70,000 from their net taxable sales, saving businesses about $2,000 in sales tax collections in July, August and September of this year. “With too many Coloradans suffering from the high cost of prescription drugs, we’re making necessary reforms to ensure that savings from prescription drug rebates are passed on to consumers instead of pocketed by highly profitable insurance companies,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “The legislation we passed today will make health insurance more dependable and protect consumers from out of pocket expenses that they weren’t expecting.” “No one should have to pay health care bills because their coverage changed in the middle of their plan year without notice or their consent,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “This legislation will save Coloradans money on health care and prescription drugs and ensure that people have access to the care and medications their doctors recommend.” HB22-1370 passed by a vote of 42-23. The bill makes prescription drugs and health care more affordable and dependable. The bill ensures doctors are in charge of a patient’s treatment instead of insurance companies by limiting when a patient has to try and fail a treatment that their insurance company prefers before they can get what their doctor recommends. The bill ensures that patients know what they’ll be expected to pay for services by requiring that 25 percent of health plans have a set dollar amount for co-pays instead of unpredictable percentage-based coinsurance. The bill will save Coloradans money on prescription drugs by requiring insurance companies to pass along the savings from manufacturers’ rebates. The bill also restricts health insurance companies from raising the out-of-pocket costs of someone’s prescription medications on the individual market in the middle of their coverage and prohibits companies from dropping coverage of a medication a patient needs midway through the patients’ coverage. Two-thirds of Coloradans are not confident they can pay for their usual health care needs with their existing coverage and more than half of all Coloradans worry about affording the medication they need to stay healthy. Colorado Democrats have prioritized saving people money on health care and have passed landmark legislation, including creating the Colorado Option and Prescription Drug Advisory Board, that will save Coloradans money on health care. Previous Next

< Back June 1, 2021 HOUSE PASSES BILLS TO FINANCE CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS AND WEATHERIZATION SERVICES DENVER, CO– The House today passed legislation to create jobs and help Colorado build back stronger by financing clean energy projects and weatherization services. These bills are a part of the Colorado Comeback state stimulus, a package of legislation that will invest roughly $800 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. “Renewable energy projects create jobs and help Colorado meet our climate goals,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “By making smart investments that stimulate our economy and get people back to work, Colorado is going to advance new energy projects and clean energy retrofits across the state and build back stronger.” “Colorado is going to lead the way on renewable energy projects that create jobs and protect our environment,” said Rep. Tracey Bernett, D-Longmont. “This innovative approach leverages state funding to draw down significant capital that will finance critical new clean energy and energy efficiency projects that will stimulate our economy and save consumers money.” SB21-230 , sponsored by Representatives Valdez and Burnett, passed by a vote of 42-21. The bill invests $40 million in clean energy finance initiatives through the Colorado Energy Office. The majority of the funds will go to the Colorado Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), which uses the “green bank” model already in operation in over a dozen states to finance clean energy projects and bridge the gaps between businesses and private capital providers. By leveraging limited public funds, the CCEF can draw over $120 million of total investment and create over 2,000 in Colorado communities most impacted by climate change. The remaining funds will be allocated to proven programs within the Colorado Energy Office that support clean energy retrofits, energy-efficient new construction, clean energy lending and funding for the installation of EV charging stations at facilities across the state. “Home weatherization saves property owners money on their utility bills, lowers energy use, increases comfort, and creates good jobs for workers in this critical industry,” said Rep. Edie Hooton, D-Boulder. “This program will help thousands of Coloradans improve the energy efficiency of their homes through cost-effective services that also improve home values.” “New weatherization technologies, such as furnace safety testing or air sealing, help consumers save on their energy bills and reduce energy consumption,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “Boosting resources for the Weatherization Assistance Program will create jobs, reduce emissions that harm our environment, and help lower-income Coloradans make important home improvements that will lower their energy bills and also help protect our environment.” The Colorado Energy Office’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) offers free weatherization support for Colorado’s low-income residents. WAP works to maximize energy cost savings for each client by providing them with cost-effective energy efficiency services. The program’s services focus on the home as a system and include a variety of measures that improve the home’s energy efficiency. These cost-effective services reduce wasted energy and lower heating bill costs, while improving the overall comfort and safety of a home year-round, they include things like air sealing, furnace safety testing, LED light bulb retrofits, and more. SB21-231 , sponsored by Representatives Mike Weissman and Edie Hooton, passed by a vote of 43-20. The bill provides $3 million in additional funding to supplement the program’s $20 million budget. Under its current budget, the program only serves about 2,000 homes per year, although about 500,000 Colorado households could qualify. Previous Next

< Back June 27, 2019 DEMOCRATIC LATINX LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS RESPONDS TO SUPREME COURT DECISION TO REFER CITIZENSHIP QUESTION ON 2020 CENSUS BACK TO LOWER COURTS (June 27) – The members of the Colorado Democratic Latinx Legislative Caucus issued a statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision this morning to refer the addition of a citizenship question on the 2020 Census back to the lower courts. Latinx are the second largest population group in the country and represent over 21 percent of Colorado’s population. “Over the course of the litigation around placing a citizenship question on the 2020 U.S. Census, it became clear that the Trump administration proactively sought to limit the political power of Latinx communities and other communities of color. That is unacceptable and wrong. Today’s Supreme Court decision rightly determined that the administration hasn’t shown enough justification for adding the question, but the fight isn’t over – a lower court will still have to weigh in. “However this ultimately turns out, it will be more important than ever to stand up and be counted in the census. For every person who sits out the census, our state and our communities stand to lose critical federal funds for major programs such as health care, transportation, and education. Our representational democracy is also at stake, because the census counts play a central role in determining how many Congressional representatives Colorado deserves. We know this fight is not over. In order to protect our communities, our future, and our Colorado way of life, we ask our communities to stay vigilant as we watch the proceedings of the lower courts and to stand up and participate in the census.” Valid census data is tied to billions of dollars of federal funding allocations for Colorado. For example, the state received over $93 million in federal funding for Head Start programs supporting early childhood education and nearly $34 million in Community Development Block Grants for FY16 due to accurate Census data. Previous Next

< Back May 10, 2022 HOUSE PASSES BILLS TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY DENVER, CO – The House today passed two bipartisan bills that will improve air quality and increase access to alternative modes of transportation. Air Quality Improvements: SB22-193 , sponsored by Representatives Meg Froelich and Alex Valdez, would provide funding for several different programs in the transportation and industrial sectors, as well as the Department of Public Health and Environment, to reduce emissions and improve Colorado’s air quality. The bill includes record investments in clean transportation initiatives and air quality monitoring and incentives. The bill passed 41-24. “Poor air quality along the Front Range has become intolerable, and it’s leading to negative health outcomes, especially for children,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “This legislature is making the single largest investment in our state’s history to improve our air quality, reduce harmful emissions and build a healthier Colorado.” “We’ve made addressing poor air quality one of our top priorities this session, and I’m proud to see the House pass this robust package of bills that will help make it easier for Coloradans to breathe all along the front range,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “This $111 million investment will create cleaner commuting options and help private entities and local governments finance projects that reduce industrial emissions.” SB22-193 will invest $111.25 million to improve Colorado’s air quality. This includes: $65 million for the Electrifying School Buses Grant Program to help school districts and charter schools convert and replace fossil-fuel reliant school buses with electric-powered school buses. $25 million for the Industrial and Manufacturing Operations Clean Air Grant Program to help private entities, local governments, and public-private partnerships finance projects to reduce industrial emissions through different technologies such as beneficial electrification, renewable energy projects, and methane capture. $12 million for the Community Access to Electric Bicycles Grant and Rebate programs which will ease and accelerate the adoption of electric bicycles by providing businesses, local governments, and individuals discounted e-bikes and easier access to e-bike sharing programs. $7 million for increased and expanded aerial surveying and localized monitoring to help identify leaks at oil and gas facilities. $1.5 million for financing and incentives for cannabis producers to reduce their energy and water use. $750,000 for increasing access to transit for state employees. Protecting Communities from Contamination from Orphan Wells: SB22-198 , sponsored by Representatives Mike Weissman and Perry Will, aims to reduce methane emissions from abandoned, unmaintained oil and gas wells by creating a sustainable funding mechanism to plug, remediate, and reclaim orphan wells. The bill passed 45-20. “Oil and gas wells that have been abandoned are a significant contributor to harmful methane emissions and are a liability for taxpayers,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “This bipartisan bill will address environmental and public health concerns from orphaned oil and gas wells and ensure that operators pay their fair share to clean up abandoned wells so taxpayers aren’t left on the hook to deal with them or the health impacts they cause.” Colorado has more than 200 orphaned wells and 500 orphaned sites, which leak methane and contribute to climate change. If passed, SB22-198 would create an enterprise within the Department of Natural Resources to fund, through annual per well fees paid by operators, the proper plugging and remediation of orphaned or abandoned wells. This bill works to complement the recent financial assurances rulemaking required in SB19-181. Saving Consumers Money on Energy Efficiency Devices: SB22-051 , sponsored by Representative Emily Sirota, would exempt certain decarbonizing building materials from state sales and use tax and allow a tax credit of 10 percent of the costs of installing energy efficient heat pump water or air cooling or heating systems. The bill passed 40-25. “Energy efficiency devices like heat pumps reduce our use of dirty fuels and lower emissions, which will improve air quality and save Coloradans money,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “This bill will save families and businesses money when they install energy efficient heating and cooling systems, which in turn will also save them money on energy costs.” Previous Next

< Back May 4, 2022 SIROTA’S CLEAN WATER IN SCHOOLS BILL PASSES HOUSE DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representative Emily Sirota to eliminate lead from drinking water in schools and child care centers. The vote was 43-19. “Every child should have safe drinking water in school or at their child care center, and when they don’t, it can have lifelong impacts on their health and education outcomes,” said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “We’re taking bold action to test for lead, replace fixtures, and install the necessary equipment to ensure drinking water is safe wherever children are cared for.” HB22-1358 would provide resources to school districts and child care centers to install filters and clean water devices to eliminate lead children’s’ drinking water. The bill provides school districts and child care centers $18 million to test for the presence of lead, install clean sources of drinking water, such as faucet filters or bottle filling stations. Many Colorado schools do not test for lead and do not know if their water is contaminated. Samples that have been taken have found elevated levels of lead in the drinking in Colorado schools. Elevated levels of lead in children’s blood leads to life-long damage, including memory loss, fatigue and challenges learning. Previous Next

< Back March 22, 2019 HOUSE ELIMINATES CASH BAIL FOR PETTY & TRAFFIC OFFENSES Bipartisan bill expected to help more than 10,000 people avoid pretrial detention (Mar. 22) – The House unanimously approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, and Rep. Matt Soper, R-Delta, to eliminate cash bail for minor offenses including having an open container, trespassing, and shoplifting less than $50 worth of goods. “Every night, thousands of Coloradans awaiting trial for minor offenses languish in jail simply because they can’t afford to get out. We are caging the poor and the homeless, not for their crimes, but for their poverty,” said Rep. Herod. “Poverty is not a crime.” The ACLU of Colorado studied state court data and estimated at least 13,000 people a year would be released from jail as a result of this reform, helping with overcrowding at many Colorado jails. Pueblo County jail recently operated at 194 percent capacity and Alamosa County jail reported operating at 127 percent. HB19-1225 passed with a bipartisan, unanimous vote and now heads to the Senate. Previous Next

< Back April 27, 2021 JOBS! CLEAN ENERGY CAREER PATHWAYS PASSES THE HOUSE Colorado Comeback bill invests millions into renewable energy job training DENVER, CO– The House today passed Representative Dominique Jackson and Brianna Titone’s bill to invest $5 million into job training and workforce development for the energy sector on third reading and final passage. The bill is part of the Colorado Comeback state stimulus , a package of legislation that will invest roughly $800 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger. The bill passed by a vote of 40-23. “Renewable energy is a booming sector that is good for the planet and good for Colorado’s economy,” said Rep. Dominique Jackson, D-Aurora. “This bill makes a sizable investment to ensure that Coloradans, especially workers displaced by COVID 19 and communities of color, have the tools they need to make a career out of clean energy. The Colorado comeback is on its way, and green jobs are coming with it.” “The energy jobs of the future are renewable, and today we voted to prepare Colorado’s workers to take them on and thrive,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “By investing in job training and workforce development in the renewable energy sector, we’re building back stronger and ensuring our economy reflects both our values and the market trends of the future.” HB21-1149 calls on the Colorado Workforce Development Council to work with local workforce boards, school districts across the state, the Colorado Department of Education, community colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher learning to create and implement a career pathway for students in the renewable energy sector. The bill invests $5 million into the career pathway so institutions of higher learning and workforce development authorities can implement what is known as the Strengthening Photovoltaic and Renewable Careers, or SPARC, program. The bill establishes that the career pathway developed by the Workforce Development Council should give priority to individuals with job losses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and that communities of color should also be prioritized. Previous Next

< Back November 19, 2021 AURORA DELEGATION STATEMENT ON SHOOTING AT HINKLEY HIGH SCHOOL DENVER, CO – Members of the Aurora delegation in the Colorado state legislature, including Senators Rhonda Fields and Janet Buckner as well as Representatives Mike Weissman, Dominique Jackson, Naquetta Ricks, Iman Jodeh, and Dafna Michaelson Jenet, today released the following joint statement on the shooting at Hinkley High School in Aurora: “We are devastated. Three times this week, young people have been shot in their own communities and around their own schools. As we await further details from today’s act of violence at Hinkley High School, our hearts are with the victims, their families, and all the students in Aurora schools. Our community is in pain and our kids are scared. “Too many of our children have experienced gun violence. Too many parents have had to pick up their kids early, and too many teachers have had to put their classrooms into lockdown. We cannot become numb to this tragic reality. So far in 2021, there have been at least 138 incidents of gunfire on school grounds across the country. We need to treat gun violence like the epidemic it is.” Previous Next